Shaun Goater tasted defeat at the weekend when his Manchester City side crashed 2-0 at Norwich City.

The First Division title favourites were expected to overcome the Canaries, who were thumped 4-0 by new boys Millwall on the opening day of the season.

But it turned out to be a bad day at the office after the excellent start they gave themselves last week in a 3-0 win over Watford.

The Blues' were second best in all areas of the game and were fortunate to leave Carrow Road having conceded just the two goals. They also had Goater's strike partner Paulo Wanchope sent off for two bookable offences.

Boss Kevin Keegan felt his players' slow start to proceedings was the catalyst for defeat, though he did praise the commitment they showed.

"'It was a bad day all round," Keegan sighed. "'We were out-thought but not out-fought - the effort was good but we didn't think our way around the pitch.

"'We never really got started and because we weren't very good in the first 20 minutes we allowed Norwich to get on top but I have got no complaints."

Kyle Lightbourne believes Macclesfield Town can be the dark horses of the Third Division. The unfancied Cheshire side have only taken one point from their opening two games - that coming in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Rochdale.

But Lightbourne, who signed a two-year deal after spurning the attentions of a number of bigger clubs in the summer, believes better fortunes are just around the corner.

"'We've got some really good little players at this club and we like to play football. I think we can certainly be counted as dark horses," he told the Manchester Evening News.

Lightbourne, 33 next month, is Macclesfield's highest paid player ever. He has thrown his 6ft 2in frame around opposition goalmouths, first for Scarborough, then Walsall, Coventry and Stoke City, and has racked up a few loan appearances for Fulham, Swindon and Cardiff.

"'I enjoyed Walsall the most and I hope Macclesfield will be a similar experience. I would really like to come to a relatively unfancied club and get promotion. That would be a real achievement," he said.

The day before Lightbourne signed for the Silkmen, the club was quoted as 50-1 for promotion by bookmakers. The day after he put pen to paper those odds had fallen dramatically to 28-1.

"'It's nice to know that I am highly rated," he said.

Macclesfield chief executive Colin Garlick, also rates the Islander. ''Kyle is a proven striker. He's an established international and his strike rate is excellent. He has a recognised name and we believe he is the type of big centre-forward that will compete in the Third Division.

"It is a signal to our supporters about just how ambitious we are to succeed at this level. He is our highest ever paid player, but wages have escalated. We will, however, maintain a disciplined structure."